Using Technology to Enhance Foreign/Second Language Instruction
Sometimes feel like a salesperson who has a product which many students are not buying? Then this session is for you! Second Language teachers are faced with unique challenges when using technology to teach students in all 4 areas of language acquisition; Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. This presentation will focus on the opportunities and challenges faced in trying to find resources, and how technology can be leveraged for learning in all four areas. We will look at practical suggestions on how teachers of any language can use what is already online to enhance current practice and give concrete examples of strategies that can be implemented in the classroom.
The next two sites are interesting because they show you the slight differences in accents between French spoken in France and French spoken in Canada.
In France: http://www.fonetiks.org/sou2fr.html
This site is a link on CanadaEast.com which is a French daily newspaper based here in New Brunswick. If you want to read current events in French, this is the place to do it – many of the stories come from the Canadian Press newswire so typically they are translated the day you see them in an English newspaper – this means that you can read the French version the following day - an excellent way to keep yourself in the loop!
If you are interested in learning how to conjugate verbs, this site is wonderful – it provides a ‘verb dictionary’ for you which not only conjugates the verbs in all the different tenses, but also tells you what they mean in English…great for figuring out what you want to say – there are also verb quizzes you can do – excellent way to practice your verbs!!
These are good online French-English dictionaries that you can bookmark on your computer – they are easy to use and generally provide accurate information.
This is a French-based terminology databank – it is provided by the government of Quebec and if you are able to read in French, it is valuable – though if you are just getting started you may find it overwhelming!!
This is an online grammar and spelling checking site which is a great little resource for those who already are able to do some writing in French – just copy your text into it and it will point out your mistakes (for the most part) and offer suggestions on how to correct it. A bit complicated for total beginners.
This is the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (in French) online – so lots to read, but also radio available online, as are TV broadcasts – news, sports, etc. Uses very ‘correct’ French, good for students to hear.
There are more than a hundred listening exercises on this site, ranging from simple dialogues to in-depth listening comprehension exercises. While the topic matter of a listening exercise doesn't necessarily matter - getting listening practice is usually the primary goal - some exercises definitely get a lot more traffic than others. The most visited listening pages tend to be those that offer practical advice or discuss someone or something famous. Here are the most popular French listening exercises on this site.
New to me, but a site that makes use of RealAudio player to play short interviews, stories, etc. that students are quizzed on – with a set of headphones, students can answer questions at their own pace – I haven’t tried it with students yet, but I like that they have quizzes prepared already. Also, European French – here in Canada we often get Quebec French (or Acadian) and it’s good for students to hear a variety of dialects of a second language.
Kids LOVE IT – can collaborate with classes anywhere – chat feature is there also, but great (free) way for students to speak to each other. Headsets with microphones make this easier.
Photostory
Please have a look at my collaborative project with the American School of Bombay - students created a short video presentation to introduce themselves...excellent for shy students. http://asb-nms0809.wikispaces.com/
This site is great for beginners – you can get vocabulary, grammar lessons, quizzes, reading and listening comprehension activities, plus links to other French sites – you can get daily French emails (word of the day, grammar tips, etc.) from them if you sign up – lots of fun!!
Using Technology to Enhance Foreign/Second Language Instruction
Sometimes feel like a salesperson who has a product which many students are not buying? Then this session is for you! Second Language teachers are faced with unique challenges when using technology to teach students in all 4 areas of language acquisition; Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. This presentation will focus on the opportunities and challenges faced in trying to find resources, and how technology can be leveraged for learning in all four areas. We will look at practical suggestions on how teachers of any language can use what is already online to enhance current practice and give concrete examples of strategies that can be implemented in the classroom.
Michelle Doucett, B.A., B.Ed.
Contact email: michelle.doucett@nbed.nb.ca
1. Jeopardy:
http://library.thinkquest.org/18783/lecon7.html#quel
2.
Quia Games:
http://www.quia.com/shared/
3.
Vocabulary building/Pronunciation Practice:
http://www.bonjour.com/
This site shows English words with similar sound to the French one: http://french.about.com/library/begin/bl-begpronunciation.htm
The next two sites are interesting because they show you the slight differences in accents between French spoken in France and French spoken in Canada.
In France: http://www.fonetiks.org/sou2fr.html
In Canada: http://www.fonetiks.org/sou5frca.html
4.
Webquest:
http://www.montvale.k12.nj.us/staff/dicairano/Food%20Webquest/Introduction.htm http://www.jerichoschools.org/hs/bloom/pariswebquestlevel3.html
5.
Interactive Power Points:
http://www.teachnet-uk.org.uk/2006%20Projects/MFL-Interactive_Exercises/index.htm
6.
Photo Roman:
Helpful sites for teachers:
http://belc2000.chez.com/horsmod/resto/restol.htm
http://vecteur.ca/ressources/technologies/photoromanpp/index.html
Student samples:
An excellent online dictionary:
http://www.wordreference.com/fren/
Heather Touchie Blakely B.A., B.Ed., M.Ed
www.ledictionnaire.com
http://asb-nms0809.wikispaces.com/